Every week will have a different attraction.

19 May: PPA “Tread Lightly” Women’s MTB.  5km (men allowed if accompanied by U12 child at all times), 12km and 22km routes. Please see website for more info regarding entry fees and closing dates for entries.

26 May: Car Boot Sale. Pay R50 and book a parking space. Sell anything you want out of your boot except edible goods or drinks. If it rains there is a contingency plan. Only a certain number of parking spaces available so book your space ASAP. Please contact Lee-Ann to book a parking space.

02 June: Arts & Crafts, Demonstrations. A number of arts and crafts goods and supplies will be available to purchase. Free demonstrations will also be available for glass blowing, soap making, decoupage, fabric painting and mosaics. Please contact Tanya to book for a demonstration.

09 June: ”B at Backsberg”. Various artist’s music, all starting with a “B” will be performed live, for example, The Beatles, BeeGees, Bach, Beethoven etc.

DETAILS:

Venue: Neville’s Place at Backsberg

Time: From 09h00

Date: Every Saturday from 19th May 2012

Contact us:  for more info or to book a boot sale parking space or craft demonstration.

Email or phone 082 495 2006/021 875 5952

*Please be aware that the restaurant is closed on Saturdays during winter from the 19th May. We are open at Neville’s place, our function venue, where you can join us for our “Saturdays at Backsberg” market. Various food and goodie stalls are to be enjoyed by all. The restaurant will still be open from Mondays to Fridays and on Sundays for our famous Lamb on the Spit!

The Details

Date: Sat 19 May 2012
Venue:   Backsberg Estate Cellars, near Paarl
Distances:  22km, 12km, 5km
Start time:  08h30, 09h00, 09h15
Cut off: 12h30

The Routes
22 km: The 22 km route is aimed at fit, fairly experienced cyclists and while the route is largely non-technical, it includes a few tough climbs and fast descents. This is not a route for a first-time cyclist. We do not recommend that youngsters u/15 ride this route.
12 km: The 12 km route is aimed at fit novice riders, cutting out the steepest climbs of the 22 km route, but still includes a few climbs guaranteed to get the lungs and legs working. We do not recommend that youngsters u/12 ride this route.
5 km: If you are new to off-road cycling or unsure of your fitness level, we recommend that you enter the 5 km route. This route is friendly and non-technical – come and try it! Male cyclists who are at all times accompanied by a child u/12, are welcome to enter the 5 km (while mom rides one of the longer routes!)

General Race info

Most of the riding takes place on farm roads through vineyards, orchards and lovely forested sections. For both the medium and long routes, all the serious climbing is done in the first half of the route, leaving you to simply enjoy the lovely views on the second half and include short sections of non-technical single-track. There is one water point around the halfway mark on the medium and long routes. Selected marshals along the routes will also have water with them, should you run out.

Entry form

To enter, click on the link above. Then search for your name in the box provided. If you have not registered yet and your name does not appear, you will be given an option to register.

Update: We understand that the link is not working in some web browsers. If you are having issues accessing the page, please can you mail Tanya on tanya@backsberg.co.za, and she will follow up with you.

Early Entry Fees

Long Route 22km: PPA Members R 60.00; Non-members R 80.00

Medium Route 12km: PPA Members R 50.00; Non-members R 70.00

Short route 5km: PPA Members R 40.00; Non-members R 60.00

Pre-entries only, closing on Monday 14 May 2012 at 12h00pm. Manual entries will also be taken until 14 May at the PPA Office at 9 Hill Park Lane, Mowbray. Registration details will be announced closer to the event on the PPA website (www.pedalpower.org.za) and PPA Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pedalpowerassociation) as well as emailed to all entrants.

No helmet, no ride. Results only to cyclists wearing Racetec transponders. Unique medals to all finishers.

Please make sure that you have at least one spare tube with you, as well as tyre levers and a pump in working order.

During and after the race there will be food and goodie stalls to enjoy as well as children’s activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a reminder that Backsberg has three spectacular Valentine’s Day offerings for you to choose from; a Romantic breakfast for two with extra special trimmings, a picnic lunch to share under the trees or a Danièle Pascal show and dinner, ending the day off with lyrics in the language of love.

Dinner,  Danièle Pascal Show and Welcoming Drink:

OR 

Breakfast:

On arrival you will each receive a glass of love potion before embarking on a romantic breakfast experience together. Heart shaped vanilla pannacotta with strawberries, scrambled egg and chives on heart shaped toast with a smoked salmon rosette and a baby tomato skewer. Also includes Croissants, preserves etc. Complete your special breakfast with chocolate kisses and aromatic coffee.

Cost: R250 per couple.

Time: 08h00 – 11h00 am

Bookings: restaurant@backsberg.co.za or please phone 021 875 5952

OR:

Lunch:

Enjoy a Backsberg picnic to share under the trees on the lawn which will include valentine’s surprises for him and her. You will be thrilled with the fun and lighted hearted, yet abundant ‘bag’ of picnic treats. Spend lunchtime and into the afternoon, under the oaks, with a bottle of wine (red or white), delicious eats…something sweet to conclude and tea/coffee…or even better, a bottle of Sparkling Brut!

Cost: R250 per couple

Time: 12h00 – 15h00

Bookings: restaurant@backsberg.co.za or please phone 021 875 5952

Breakfast:

On arrival you will each receive a glass of love potion before embarking on a romantic breakfast experience together. Heart shaped vanilla pannacotta with strawberries, scrambled egg and chives on heart shaped toast with a smoked salmon rosette and a baby tomato skewer. Also includes Croissants, preserves etc. Complete your special breakfast with chocolate kisses and aromatic coffee.

Cost: R250 per couple.

Time: 08h00 – 11h00 am

Bookings: restaurant@backsberg.co.za or please phone 021 875 5952

Lunch:

Enjoy a Backsberg picnic to share under the trees on the lawn which will include valentine’s surprises for him and her. You will be thrilled with the fun and lighted hearted, yet abundant ‘bag’ of picnic treats. Spend lunchtime and into the afternoon, under the oaks, with a bottle of wine (red or white), delicious eats…something sweet to conclude and tea/coffee…or even better, a bottle of Sparkling Brut!

Cost: R250 per couple

Time: 12h00 – 15h00

Bookings: restaurant@backsberg.co.za or please phone 021 875 5952

Seminar 1 – Food and Wine Pairing

Date: Saturday the 28th of January at Backsberg Estate Cellars

Time: 10:00 for 10h30 (the seminar is an hour and a half)

Cost: R200

Food and wine pairing can be tricky, but there are some solid fundamentals you can learn that can make the whole process much easier and a lot more enjoyable. No more cursing and sweating over whether the Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc should be paired with the fish, or how big a wine you need for that piece of fillet.

Nancy Gilchrist will be taking you through the the basics of pairing food and wine, examining how the various aspects of taste (bitter/sweet/sour etc) combine, and how best to match wines to your food. It will be a practical seminar where you will be able to taste wines with food as she guides you through the process.

Payment confirms booking, please email Tanya .

Seminar 2 - The Versatile Varieties:  Another look at our most familiar grapes.”  

Date: Tuesday 31st Jaunary at Backsberg Estate Cellars

Time: 18:00 for 18h30

Cost: R250

Looking at various ‘typical’ grape varieties, Nancy will chat about their history and specifics while you get to taste examples of each. This is a great seminar for those wanting to learn more about the wines they drink, who want a bit of background info on what makes their Cabernet Sauvignon a Cabernet Sauvignon. This seminar does not include a food element.

Payment confirms booking, please email Tanya .

Some of Nancy’s qualifications and pursuits: 

Passed Master of Wine exam winning both the Rosemount and the Listel Scholarships

Contributes articles to Decanter, Food & Travel Magazine, and wine columnist for Country House & Home (2001-2003).

Judge at Decanter Wine Awards and IWC

Presents the regular wine course as well as Masterclasses at Christie’s Wine Education

We have presented this wine to a number of foreign journalists who have visited us and have been well impressed with the wine. The oak has been judged perfectly by Guillaume Nell our wine-maker.  He fermented the wine in open top 500l French barrels with daily bunch downs by hand. After the wine had completed fermentation it was pressed and aged in the same 500l barrels for 12 months.

The wine shows beautiful Pinot fruit, all cherries, strawberry and raspberries, with a touch of savoury spice from the oak. Despite the vineyards being quite young the wine is wonderfully full-flavoured, but still quite light-bodied.

It’s a wine that not only shows the delicious characters of Pinot Noir, but also the careful wine-making of Guillaume.

This is a wine to watch for the future – though delicious now – and as the vines age we will see a wine that grows in depth and complexity. It is a wine that everyone is very excited about.

As wine club-members you are eligible to pre-order this fantastic new wine before it made available to the public. For wine club members we are offering this wine at R497-00 per case of 6. This wine is over-delivering on quality at this price. Be smart, and have something different this Christmas.

Remember we ship nationally at very affordable rates. Mail tanya@backsberg.co.za for a quote. 

Picnic Summer Mix

6 x Tread Lightly Sauvignon Blanc 2011

6 x Tread Lightly Chenin Blanc 2011

R377.90 incl discount, excluding delivery costs.

Lazy Day Summer Mix

3 x Backsberg Family Reserve White Blend 2009

3 x John Martin Sauvignon Blanc 2010

3 x Chardonnay 2010

3 x Chenin Blanc 2011

R859.95 incl discount, excluding delivery costs.

Luxury Summer Mix

1 x Hillside Viognier 2009

1 x Backsberg Family Reserve White Blend 2009

1 x MCC Brut 2008

1 x John Martin Sauvignon Blanc 2010

1 x Chardonnay 2009

1 x Klein Babylonstoren 2007

R544.95 incl discount, excluding delivery costs.

Recently my wife and I were busy re-housing our wine collection when we were delighted to come across a bottle of your 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon.

As Backsberg has always been one of our favourite estates and we’ve always enjoyed your wine we just wanted to let you know that at the age of 18 this wine made for delightful drinking.

Long may your Estate flourish

With best regards – Nick & Lorna Grant

Thanks Nick and Lorna for letting us know. And if anyone else out there has some 1993 in their cellars it probably is a good time to get drinking.

If you are opening an older Backsberg wine why not snap a pic, send it through, and tell us how the wine went down.

Especially you our Wine Club members. We are offering two free glasses of Tread Lightly Merlot for you at any of the concerts you attend. All you have to do is let Tanya know what Concert you will be attending and she will send you vouchers which you can then redeem at the bar on the day.

There is a slight twist with the series this year as each of the performers will be bringing an up and coming artist with them to open the gig. It will be interesting to see who the artists believe is the future of South African music.

The series runs in two parts this year, the first five gigs take place every Sunday from 20 November 2011, to 18 December 2011; the second five  - also on Sundays – are from 22  January 2012 to 13 February.

There is no better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than relaxing in the sun with a glass of fine wine as brilliant artists entertain you. Pack your umbrella, picnic blankets and lunches as kykNET and Backsberg take care of the rest. Audiences can choose to pre-book a special Backsberg picnic to enjoy with these sunset acoustic performances, or buy one of our famous lamb burgers at the venue.  And, of course, it‘s just better with a glass of Backsberg wine.

Pre-sale tickets for the concerts and picnics are on sale  from www.ticketbreak.co.za/backsberg. Tickets are R85 or R170 with a picnic and R100.00 at the gate. Children under 12 years get in free when accompanied by their parents.Please, no alcohol is allowed, but there are a selection of Backsberg Wines as well as beers on sale.

Admission to concert venue starts at 15:00, with the opening act starting at 16:00 and the main act at 17:00. For the full line up of bands, directions, comments, and more information on the series, please visit www.facebook.com/BacksbergConcerts